Situations Sq. ‘terrorist’ was a typical Maine boy who cherished wrestling and ‘dreamed of currently being soldier’

Trevor Bickford appeared to be a usual, all-American teen prior to he allegedly grew to become a radicalized Muslim and slashed two cops with a machete in Moments Sq..

The alleged Islamic extremist, 19, the moment made the faculty honor roll, won awards for his artwork and was a member of the championship football staff in his hometown of Wells, Maine.

But right after his father died of a drug overdose in 2018, it’s believed Bickford’s daily life descended into turmoil.

By the time Bickford built his way to New York Town on Amtrak alone for the alleged assaults this weekend, the teenager was presently reportedly on the FBI’s radar.

He was on the Bureau’s terrorism ‘Guardian Watchlist,’ and had explained to his aunt he was organizing to travel to Afghanistan to struggle, sources explained to The New York Publish.

On Saturday night time, Bickford allegedly attacked two NYPD law enforcement officers on Eighth Avenue concerning 51st and 52nd Avenue, ideal outside Situations Sq. where by countless numbers of revelers ended up ringing in the new 12 months.

Another officer shot at Bickford, hanging him in the shoulder. He remains hospitalized at the Bellevue and charges are pending.  

The complete household is pictured in happier situations at the Tower of Terror in Disney Globe

Trevor Bickford, 19, appeared to be a usual teen in advance of he allegedly became radicalized and built his way to Times Sq. on New Year’s Eve in which he is accused of slashing two cops

Bickford, now 19, allegedly approached a team of NYPD police officers near Situations Square on New Year’s Eve and slashed two of the cops with a machete

Bickford does not have criminal history in accordance to a preliminary investigation, but law enforcement sources say the Bureau in Boston have an open case on him.

Authorities have explained to NBC they were on the lookout into irrespective of whether the suspect had earlier posted what they referred to as jihadist writings on the internet and and then traveled to New York City to goal law enforcement.

Pictures posted to Facebook show Bickford at various situations of his lifestyle, lots of with his two brothers Devin and Travis.

There are pics of him taking part in football with the championship Wells Substantial School Warriors football crew, singing in the choir and marching with the colour guard.

As a short while ago as 2020, he was amid a team of college students to acquire awards for their artwork. Bickford gained for his get the job done in jewellery, Seacoastonline reported at the time.

Prior to his demise in 2018 – reportedly of a drug overdose – his father Thomas Bickford proudly posted images of his sons and their achievements.

Loved ones and friends were being swift to praise the boys and their shiny futures. Bickford’s father died at the age of 41, according to his obituary.

Bickford’s father Tom posted a shots of his sons at a Bears game in 2015. Tom died in 2018

Bickford is from Wells, Maine the place his family has lived for most of their life

His dad Thomas Bickford died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 41, in accordance to his obit

His dad and mom Thomas and Audra D’Antilio married on September 9, 2001 and raised three sons, Devin, Trevor and Travis, in Wells, Maine.

The patriarch of the spouse and children could be frequently be discovered coaching them at football and wrestling, in accordance to the obituary.

It also said he was in some cases challenging on his sons in conditions of his design and style of coaching, but ‘he loved his boys extra than anything at all.’

Bickford’s mother Audra D’Antilio, who eventually remarried, also has a slew of pictures on her Fb web page the place she gushes about her son, contacting him an ‘old soul’ and writes that she feels fortunate to be his mother.

On July 28, she shared a photograph of Bickford for his 19th birthday and wrote: ‘Happy 19th Birthday Trevor. So very pleased and lucky to be ready to connect with you my son.

‘You’re an outdated soul and you amaze me each individual working day with all that you love to discover and do. I adore that you have no concern of trying new things, and you certainly are the very best brother ever. I am so further than proud of the gentleman you are turning into, I really like you.’

Just 6 months afterwards, Bickford is currently being accused of the assaults on the NYPD officers. Bickford and the cops are all at Bellevue Clinic in Manhattan, where are all predicted to survive.

The assault occurred just outside of the high-safety zone the place thousands of revelers have been screened for weapons as they prepared to ring in 2023.

Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with this machete on 8th Avenue close to Occasions Square all-around 10pm very last night time where by thousands of revelers ready to ring in the new 12 months

A further officer fired on the suspect, hitting him in the shoulder. All of the injured ended up taken to Bellevue Clinic where they are in really serious but stable situation, officers have stated

An investigation was underway to pinpoint a motive for the assault, but authorities stated they did not feel there was any ongoing risk to the public.

Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in demand of the FBI’s New York area workplace, mentioned they think the attacker acted by yourself.

Authorities have explained to NBC they were being wanting into no matter whether the suspect experienced formerly posted what they termed jihadist writings on the internet and and then traveled to New York Metropolis to target law enforcement.

Sources instructed the New York Submit that Bickford packs tenting equipment, a diary and a final will and testomony for his excursion down to Manhattan for the attacks. 

Bickford’s mother has a slew of pics on her Fb site exactly where she gushes about the 19-12 months-aged, contacting him an ‘old soul’ and suggests she’s fortunate to be his mother

Pictures posted on the net by his loved ones exhibit Bickford with his brothers or with his pet

A smiling Bickford is pictured in quite a few of his mother’s social media posts

The slashing unfolded just just exterior the stability zone in Times Sq., the place 1000’s gathered for the annual New Year’s Eve ball fall. Police screened revelers for contraband these kinds of as alcoholic beverages, massive baggage, and weapons.

Video clip from the scene shows revelers getting hurried from the scene by cops trying to regulate the scene, positioned at 52nd street and 8th avenue. Officers can be observed screaming at pedestrians to move absent from the criminal offense scene.

The NYPD mounts a enormous stability procedure just about every year to hold the New Year’s Eve group harmless. 1000’s of officers are deployed in the space, including several new recruits to the drive.

The blocks in which the biggest crowds assemble to see performances and the midnight ball drop can only be accessed by means of checkpoints exactly where officers use metal-detecting wands to screen for weapons. ‘

Huge bags and coolers are banned. Boundaries are set up to avert car or truck assaults in the safe area.

The protection perimeter can only prolong so far, though. The attack took put on 8th Avenue, which is often packed with thick crowds navigating close to the frozen zone or hoping to find one of the secure entrances.